Guide to Professional Success

Transcription

1 B U T L E R I n t e r n s h i p Internship and Career Services 4600 Sunset Ave. Atherton Union 315 Indianapolis, IN ics@butler.edu U N I V E R S I T Y a n d C a r e e r S e r v i c e s Guide to Professional Success resumes cvs cover letters networking interviewing

2 Table of Contents 3 Welcome! 4 Writing an Effective Resume 9 Creating a CV 10 Providing References and Letters of Recommendation 11 Composing a Cover Letter 13 Networking 17 Preparing for an Interview 24 What to Wear 26 Interviews at a Distance 28 After the Interview 29 Success Tips for Interns and Young Professionals 30 Appendices

3 Welcome! The Internship and Career Services (ICS) office at Butler University provides you with a wide array of resources and tools to help you obtain your career goals. Below are some of the services offered by ICS. Career Advising Visit the ICS office for personalized assistance with your job or internship search or for help in exploring options for your major. Networking and Career Fairs Attend a networking or career fair on or off campus to connect with employers and learn about internship and career opportunities. Resume and Cover Letter Critique Our career advisors can help you craft winning resumes and cover letters to help showcase your skills and abilities. Job and Internship Search Make an appointment with our trained staff and we will help you formulate a strategic plan for finding an internship or fulltime position. Mock Interviews Practice your interviewing skills and receive valuable feedback while learning best practices for selling yourself in an interview. B.L.U.E. (Butler Links U to Employers) Our online career management system provides access to full-time, part-time, on-campus and internship opportunities. B.L.U.E. is available to all students and alumni. On-Campus Interviews Interview on campus with companies throughout the year. A calendar of upcoming on-campus interviews is available on the ICS website. Gap Year Our staff will help you search for a gap year experience that fits your goals and interests. Self Assessment Resources ICS offers a variety of assessments including the Strong Interest Inventory, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), and StrengthsQuest. Internship and Career Events ICS hosts a variety of career events each semester. Listings of upcoming offerings, including the Professional Success Series, can be found on the ICS website. Internship and Career Services Atherton Union, room ics@butler.edu 3

4 Writing an Effective Resume If you ask ten different people how your resume should be structured, they will tell you ten different ways. The bottom line is that there is no right way to create a resume. Your resume should, however, showcase your skills and accomplishments to an employer. Accompanied by a cover letter, its purpose is to help you obtain an interview. Getting Started The reverse chronological resume is a great way to list your work experiences beginning with the most recent first and aligning your dates along the right hand side of the page. This type of resume has a very organized feel, allows the reader to easily scan the resume, and is the most widely used and most preferred by employers. When formatting your resume, there are strategies that you may use to promote your abilities and capture the reader s attention. Although there are popular standard formats, your format will depend upon your target audience and the manner in which you want to present yourself. Most employers look at resumes for only 15 seconds maybe 30 seconds if they like what they see. Therefore, a resume should not be an exhaustive list of everything you have ever done. The information you include in your resume should support your career objective. Follow these proven strategies to help create an effective resume. Heading Bold your name and use 16-pt. font to help it stand out. Make sure that the voic for the number you provide is professional. Your address should be job appropriate. If you are graduating soon, be sure to create a new, professional address to place on your resume. You may place a line underneath your heading to set it apart from the rest of the page. Career Objective This is an optional section. However, if you choose to include an objective, be sure to target it towards the type of position and organization for which you are applying. Also, include a few skills that you can bring to the organization, rather than focusing on what they can do for you. Use the job description to help you choose which skills to include. Education List your education in reverse chronological order. Include your anticipated or earned degree, major, minor, university and expected year of graduation. Bold the name of your degree and place it on the first line, so that it stands out on the page. List your GPA, including that of your major if significantly higher than your overall GPA. If your GPA is below 3.0, ask your career advisor for guidance. Include honors and awards that represent a composite picture of your strengths. Add study abroad programs and all other transferred schools if applicable. Listing relevant coursework is optional, but may be important. Only select the most relevant courses that will help market your skills. Experience Include any employment or internships (including unpaid experiences) that you have obtained. Include title, name of organization, location and dates for each position. Write out the month and year for both beginning and end dates (e.g., May 2013 June 2014). Emphasize your strongest accomplishments, rather than a list of job duties. Begin each bullet with an action verb. Refrain from using passive phrases such as responsible for (See Appendix A for a list of action verbs). Refrain from using pronouns. Spell out numbers one through nine and use numerics for 10 and above. Keep bullet points short and concise, yet specific. 4 Internship and Career Services

5 Abbreviate states with capital letters (e.g., IN, CA, NY). Minimize all formatting and only bold the most pertinent pieces of information. For example, if your job titles are your strongest selling point, place them on the first line and only bold that piece of information so that they stand out on the page. Include results when possible. Ask yourself the following questions: How did my work benefit the company? What were my strongest accomplishments? What skills should I highlight that are most relevant to the job? Quantify when possible (e.g., Supervised 15 employees, Decreased expenses by 15 percent, Managed a $30,000 budget). If you have relevant experience in the field, you may title this section to be more specific to the position (e.g., Non-Profit Experience or Public Relations Experience ). You may then include all relevant experience in this section. You may add an additional Experience section underneath it to place any other experiences that are relevant but do not fit into the above section. This helps you highlight your strongest and most relevant experience on the top of the page. Leadership and Community Service List activities that you held throughout your college experience. Note offices held and committee work performed. Only list activities that you would feel comfortable expanding upon in an interview. Bold the titles of your positions or the organization so that they stand out on the page. Be sure to be consistent on each line of this section. List the corresponding dates on the right hand side of the page, consistent with the rest of the document. Skills This is an optional section. You can include specific language, computer or other relevant skills. Only include skills that are specific to the position for which you are applying. A few final tips! Be sure to tailor your resume for each position. Based on the job description, make a list of the skills that are needed to successfully perform the job duties. Tailor your resume to specifically emphasize those skills. Do not exaggerate your experiences. Find a position that matches your current skill set. Absolutely no typos! Don t overcrowd the page. Use no less than 11-pt. font and.75 margins. Recommended fonts include Times and Arial. Avoid acronyms. Do not include personal information (e.g. relationship status, age, siblings, etc.). Be consistent in your format (e.g., If you list dates on the right in your experience section, you must list them on the right for all sections). Articulating Your Study Abroad Experience Professionally In a competitive job market you need to highlight everything that might set you apart from other candidates, and your study abroad experience can do just that! It is important to incorporate your experience as well as the valuable skills you gained. What to Include When including study abroad on your resume, think about the skills you gained and what you learned while abroad. Did you become proficient in a language? Did you gain research experience? Have you become well versed in some aspect of your host country s culture? Remember, in your resume as well as in interviews you must make the connection to the skills you gained from your experience, as it won t always be obvious to an employer. Your resume should focus on the results of your study abroad experience, not simply where you went or what you did. Where to Place Your Study Abroad Experience You can include your study abroad experience under education or relevant experience. If your experience was heavily academic (e.g., large course load, research work, etc.), it may be best to include it under education. However, if you completed an internship while abroad, you might choose to include it under relevant work experience. You can also include study and work abroad programs in a separate category titled International Experience. This option may be the most appropriate if you have had multiple experiences abroad. Be sure to include key skills you developed through these experiences. When reading the upcoming section on Preparing for an Interview, craft interview answers from your study abroad experiences to answer some of the interview questions provided. 5

6 Turning Job Duties into Accomplishments Composing bullet points can be one of the most challenging parts of creating a strong resume. Be sure to focus your bullet points on your accomplishments instead of just a list of your job duties. Try including at least one of these items in each bullet point, and see the difference that it makes! WHY? Including why you did a particular task helps showcase how you added value. Merely stating what you did doesn t allow you to state why your work was important. HOW? Including how you did something allows for you to expand upon your skills and knowledge, and provides more detail to paint a clear picture of your accomplishment. RESULT Did you make a change? Did you improve a process? Is there a tangible result of the work that you did? What employer wouldn t want to hire someone who has proven that they can deliver positive results? Examples Job Duty Accomplishment Assisted with classroom activities for music students Exposed students to meaningful musical experiences (WHY?) to enhance their social and academic development Enhanced students social and academic development (HOW?) by exposing them to meaningful musical experiences Pick the strongest piece and place it at the beginning of the line, in case the employer doesn t read the full statement. Additional examples: Created an interactive learning environment (HOW?) through creative drills and skills practices (WHY?) to increase engagement Encouraged participation in reading aloud (WHY?) to increase confidence and enhance pronunciation skills (RESULT) Improved transfer student rate (HOW?) by implementing events tailored to serve their individual needs Let s try an example! 1. Write a brief statement about an accomplishment that you had in an internship, campus organization, etc., that relates to the position for which you are applying. 2. Now, turn your statement into an accomplishment. Determine what the employer would care about the most: Why it was important? How you accomplished it? Or if there was a tangible result? Tip: If you are having trouble deciding which piece to include, use your job description as a guide. An employer s job description states what they are looking for in a candidate. Select personal experiences that prove you have the skills that they include in their posting. See Appendix B for sample resumes. 6 Internship and Career Services

7 Tailoring Your Resume Tailoring your resume is a very effective way to align your past experiences with what an employer is looking for in a candidate. An employer's job description is a great way to see exactly what they are looking for, and then brainstorm accomplishments you have had that prove you could do the job well. Below are some examples of pieces of a job description and bullet points tailored to meet those needs. Job Description Provide one-on-one guidance to music students as needed Bullet Point Provided individual guidance to three students, helping them significantly advance their playing range Job Description Communicate regularly with parents to create a cooperative relationship to support the child in school Bullet Point Facilitated open communication with parents to create a supportive and trusting environment for students Job Description Incorporate the use of solfege (do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do) to teach sight reading basics Bullet Point Taught sight reading basics by incorporating solfege (do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do) into classroom activities Let's try an example! 1. Pick out a piece of a job description for which you plan to apply. 2. Write down a past experience that aligns with the piece of the job description you selected. 3. Now, using the strategies described on the previous page, turn that thought into a well stated bullet point! See Appendix C for the full CV and matching job description. 7

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9 Creating a CV While most undergraduate students will compose a resume, there are certain fields which may require a CV. A CV is typically required for academic positions including teaching or research positions, as well as pharmacy. If you are required to submit a CV for a position, read below for tips and suggestions to help get you started. Getting Started The great thing about a CV is that you have more room to expand upon your education and past experiences. A resume is typically one page, whereas a CV can be between 2 to 10 pages in length. Typically, as a new professional you will start off with two pages, and it will increase in length as you advance in your career. Content The content that you choose to include in your CV will depend upon your field and the position for which you are applying. Your CV should begin with your name and contact information including your address, postal address and a phone number at which you may be reached. There are three main areas that you will want to target in your CV, which include teaching, research and service. The sections that you include in your CV are subjective, but should definitely include the following pieces of information: Education, including all anticipated or earned degrees, major, minor, university and expected year of graduation. You may also include all study abroad experiences. All assistantships, fellowships, practicum and student teaching experiences. All research projects, presentations and publications including thesis and/or dissertation. Community service/volunteer work. Professional associations and memberships. Professional references. Similar to a resume, you will want to begin each bullet point with an action verb and showcase your strongest accomplishments in each area. Also, quantify when possible and include the results of your actions (e.g. how your work benefited the students or the organization involved). Below are some examples of section headings. Achievements Affiliations Career Highlights Certifications Community Service Conferences Attended Distinctions Education Honors and Awards International Experience Language Leadership Leadership Involvement Licensures Memberships Performances Presentations Professional Associations Professional Development Professional Papers Professional Recognition Professional Summary Proficiencies Programs and Workshops Publications References Research Experience Scholarly Presentations Thesis See Appendix C for CV samples. 9

10 Providing References and Letters of Recommendation Providing References Employers typically check your references right before they make you an offer or if they are deciding between you and another candidate. Sometimes they will make an offer contingent upon checking your references and transcripts. References can either make or break the deal, yet many candidates put little thought into selecting their references. Below are some items to consider when choosing your references. Select three to five business references to provide to the employer. The individuals you select should be able to expand upon your work (e.g., supervisors, professors, coaches, customers, and people you worked for on volunteer or community projects). Choose references that are really going to sing your praises. Choose energetic, positive people who are good communicators. If you have any doubt about what someone might say about you, don t use them. Some references may work for companies that have a policy that they will only verify dates of employment and job title. If you want to use someone from a company with this policy, ask the person if they would be willing to provide a phone reference off-site. If not, explain the policy to your prospective employer and provide another reference. Ask permission before giving their name out as a reference. Send them a copy of your resume and explain your career objective and marketing plan. They should be aware of the type of position for which you are applying and the strengths and accomplishments you are emphasizing. They may also have some very good advice and comments about your resume, as well as serve as one of your networking contacts. Coach your references. If an employer has asked for references, contact each reference and let them know who will call them, what the position entails and why they are interested in you. Ask your references for the best method and time to be reached. Create a separate reference sheet that matches your resume format. Placing References available upon request on your resume is not necessary. The reference sheet should match the heading on your resume as well as the font and margins. Verify that all contact information is current. You should include: name, title, address, phone number, and address. List your references in order of preference. Employers may start at the top and go down the list. Finally, let your references know when and where you have accepted a position, and thank them for helping you in the job search process. Providing Letters of Recommendation A letter of recommendation may be requested by employers or professional programs when applying. These letters provide valuable information to employers and admissions departments in regards to your past experiences. When requesting a letter of recommendation, here are a few tips to assist in the process: 1. Choose individuals who can provide evidence of your past accomplishments that prove that you have the skills and qualities needed. Past supervisors, professors, mentors, and coaches are all great options. Refrain from asking family members to write recommendations. 2. Give your recommenders plenty of time to write the letter. Share with them the position/program to which you are applying as well as supplemental information that will help them select the experiences to share in the letter. Send along any relevant projects/papers as well as a deadline. 3. If possible, ask for the letter of recommendation in person or by phone. These methods tend to be more personal than sending an Always follow up with your recommenders with a thank you letter and update them on the results of your application. TIP: Even if an employer has not requested a letter of recommendation, it could be very beneficial to send one along with your resume and cover letter. Many applicants do not, which could give you a competitive edge! See Appendix D for a sample reference page. 10 Internship and Career Services

11 Composing a Cover Letter Including a cover letter with your resume is very beneficial and often requested by employers. A cover letter allows you the opportunity to expand on your experiences, clear up any misconceptions about your resume and explain to the employer exactly how your skills align with the position they are looking to fill. A cover letter should always accompany your resume unless instructed otherwise. Getting Started As you begin to write a cover letter, have a copy of the job description close by. The points highlighted in your letter should align specifically with the skills outlined in the job description. Pick a couple of your strongest experiences and expand on them in your letter. The experiences you choose should coincide specifically with the skills required for the position. Below are some additional tips to keep in mind while writing a cover letter. Keep it to one page. Use a font type and size that matches your resume. Edit carefully for spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors. Be direct and demonstrate enthusiasm. Do not mass produce a cover letter create one specifically for each job description. Do not overuse the personal pronoun I. Cover Letter Format While each cover letter will be a little different, there are some proven strategies to help you catch the employer s attention. Follow the tips below to help create an effective and easy-to-navigate letter. Address Blocks Typically, at the top left hand side of the page, you should include your street address, followed by the date and the employer's address. Greeting Address your cover letter to a specific person. If the name is not listed in the job posting, you may research their website or contact the employer to determine the most appropriate person to address. If you are unable to find a contact person s name, Dear Hiring Manager: may be used. Introduction Paragraph The introduction paragraph should state the purpose for which you are writing. Be specific about the title of the position. If you were referred by a professional contact, you may state their name here. You will also want to include a sentence that grabs the attention of the employer to entice them to keep reading. Tell the reader what you will bring to the position in terms of skills and accomplishments, and how they align with the objectives of the position. Then go on to prove those skills in the following paragraphs. Body Paragraphs The second and (optional) third paragraphs allow you to elaborate on the skills you mentioned in your introduction. Do not repeat verbatim the information on your resume. Instead, provide good examples of how your skills have been demonstrated. The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. Thus, describe your past accomplishments and how they predict success in future endeavors. One of the best ways to organize your accomplishments into a clearly understood paragraph is to use the CAR method. This method is also used to effectively answer behavior-based interview questions. The acronym CAR stands for Circumstance (give them an overview of what you are telling them), Actions (the actions you specifically took) and Results (the end result of your actions, or what you learned from the experience). Using this method to showcase your accomplishments provides proof that you have the skills the employer is looking for in a good candidate. See page 19 for an example. 11

12 Closing Paragraph The closing paragraph should provide a smooth transition. Skills are not the only factors that determine success; personal characteristics and the ability to interact with others are equally important. Therefore, complement the skills you highlight by describing personal qualities which will enable you to perform well. Also, ask the employer for an interview and include contact information. Keep in mind that a job search is a communications process. You initiate the process and YOU must follow-up. See Appendix E for sample cover letters. 12 Internship and Career Services

13 Networking Networking is the key to finding internship or job opportunities. Most individuals know how to meet new people and find new contacts through friends, colleagues, mentors or online. However, when it comes to knowing the details of how to network, some are left without much guidance. What it IS Talking to people you know such as parents, friends of the family and alumni and/or asking them to introduce you to others. Volunteering in your community. Visiting with other members of different social or religious groups. Asking for a referral Striking up a conversation with someone while you are waiting in line. Meeting new contacts on LinkedIn, Facebook or other social networks. Attending professional or trade association meetings. What it is NOT A process of making cold-calls to people to whom you have no connection. Handing out as many business cards as you can to anyone who will take them. Just about you; it s a two-way street (be prepared to return the favor). Just for professional purpose; it can be beneficial in multiple ways it s the act of building alliances. A careful choreographed process of meeting and greeting people. About quantity; it s about quality of contacts. A onetime activity; it should be an on-going lifelong process. Who Do You Know? So, who do you know? The activity below will allow you to realize the many contacts you already have, who your contacts know and how you might begin to connect with them. A few examples have been provided below. List all the people you know (e.g., friends, family, professors, community members, etc.). Informal Networking Linking with the people you know List a person you might connect with who knows the person to the left of this column. Formal Networking Participating in formal events/opportunities List events/opportunities and briefly describe how you would connect with people there. Example 1: Dad Example 2: Professor X Dad plays golf regularly with Mr. Smith, owner of XYZ company in our home town. Does research for Eli Lilly on the side, and has several contacts there. Ask to join them for lunch at the golf course to be introduced to Mr. Smith. Make appointment with Professor X to ask about his connections at Eli Lilly. See Appendix F for sample networking letters. 13

14 Skills of a Good Networker Below is a list of skills that good networkers will possess. Quality vs. quantity The number of people you know does not matter. It is the quality of your contacts that does. Who are the decision makers? Influencers? Who can help you and how? Slow down Get to know people not only from a business perspective, but also from a personal perspective. Go low tech In some cases, a quick phone call can be more efficient than many s. Pick up the phone and even find time to meet face-to-face. is excellent when sending documents or directions. Don t overuse it. Diversity In the financial community, a diversified portfolio is preferable. The same is true with your network. Introductions rule This is the ultimate in flattery when someone takes time out of their day to make the effort to introduce you. This separates name droppers from the genuine networkers. Practice 3rd party networking Take the time to introduce two people so they can benefit from meeting each other. Doing so will provide you the opportunity to reconnect with someone without any underlying needs. Avoid last minute networking When the economy tanked, all of a sudden people discovered networking. They called people in a panic asking for referrals or job leads. Try to build relationships before you need them. Make random hello calls When someone comes up in a conversation or comes to mind, make a random hello call. You don t need to have an agenda or reason, simply share that they were in your thoughts and you wanted to connect. Unlearn shyness If shyness is a challenge for you, start a conversation with a stranger in the elevator just before you reach your floor. Say something quick great tie or have a nice day. Too often shyness is misinterpreted as indifference and you don t want to send that message. Think friendly. Using Social Media as a Networking Tool A very high percentage of employers use social media sites such as LinkedIn ( Facebook ( com) and Twitter ( to promote job openings and locate qualified candidates. You may utilize these sites to expand your social and professional network, search for jobs and promote your skills and accomplishments. When participating in sites such as these, it will be very important for you to review your profiles to ensure that they convey the message that you would like employers to receive. If you have personal information that may hinder your candidacy, it is highly recommended that you remove these items. LinkedIn LinkedIn has become a highly valuable resource for both employers and students. Employers utilize LinkedIn to search for candidates for both internship and job opportunities, so it is highly recommended to build a complete profile to serve as your online resume. LinkedIn is also a very effective tool for locating individuals who are in organizations in which you are interested. Below are some tips for getting started on LinkedIn: Build a complete profile using your resume as a guide (e.g., education, experience, organizations, courses, projects, etc.). Include a well-written and descriptive summary. Add connections including professors, supervisors, coaches, teammates, mentors, alumni, etc. Search your connections for second-degree connections. This is a great way to meet new people in your field and to expand your professional network. Ask for introductions to individuals of interest. Be open to introducing others who you feel may benefit from one another. Join groups of interest, review job boards, and participate in discussions to help connect with others. Start building your profile early on instead of waiting until you need your network. Finally, be sure to keep your content professional including all status updates, headlines, and photos. Facebook and Twitter Tips for Success Make sure pictures, postings and other items on your Facebook profile are appropriate for employers to see, even if you have it set to private. Don t talk negatively about a past or current employer. Use these networks to promote your professional experiences, activities and interests. Remember that employers may not have access to Facebook at work or personal 24/7; you must have patience when communicating with them through social networks and sources. Following up through a source such as or phone is encouraged. 14 Internship and Career Services

15 Step-by-Step Networking Tips Review the networking tips below (adapted from jobbankusa.com). Build rapport. State, I was referred by (give name of mutual friend/colleague). Then you may state, "I m contacting you about a career matter, but let me assure you that I am not calling to ask you for a job nor do I expect you to even know of any job openings. Let me start by telling you a bit about myself and my professional background " State where you ve been by using a positioning statement. This is a succinct verbal statement that explains who you are professionally. Example: I am a senior finance major at Butler University. My strengths include analysis, problem solving, communication and innovation. I have had two financial analyst internships which have further honed my skills and now I am seeking a full-time position after graduation to continue my passion for the financial field. Share your situation. This is a concise explanation of why you re looking for guidance. Example: Although I have many resources available here at Butler, I know that meeting directly with someone in my field of interest to gain valuable guidance and insight will be very beneficial to my career management. If you are already out in the professional world, you may use an exit statement to explain your situation as to why you left or want to leave your most recent position. Example: As a result of a merger between two business units, over 1500 positions have been affected, including mine. I now have the opportunity to explore other career options in financial services that will leverage my proven strengths in analysis, problem-solving, communication and innovation. The exit statement must be expressed in positive terms, so there will be no suspicion that you did something wrong to lose your job. Ask for help. Would you be willing to help me? Decompress. Take the pressure off. Reassure your contact again that you are not asking for a job. Reiterate, As I said, I am not asking you for a job, nor do I expect you to know of any appropriate positions. However, I am interested in any advice or guidance that you could offer, in addition to any networking contacts you could provide. (Give name of mutual friend/colleague) told me that you d be a great person to talk to for this purpose. Would you be willing to review some of my credentials and give me candid feedback? Ask again for help and leverage the notion of six degrees of separation. Ask for contacts from your contacts! And always come from generosity. This means you should be on the lookout for opportunities to offer something of value in return. For example, if you hear of an opportunity that matches the skills set of one of your connections, pass the information along with an offer to connect them to someone within that organization. This gesture will let them know that you have them on your mind. Suggest a time to meet and offer a sign of thanks. Offer some days and times that are available on your calendar as possible dates to meet. If the contact responds back with a date and time that conflicts with class, work or other commitments, it s okay to kindly ask if another time or date will work instead. Thank the contact in advance for their time and help. Example: I know your input will be of great value, and I appreciate your willingness to help. Follow-up. Follow-up after your networking meeting and keep the conversation going with a two-way value exchange; note that if the contact is a center of influence, try to have your follow-up discussion face-to-face instead of on the phone, unless the contact is outside your geographic region. These steps are just a guideline. Feel free to change or add to any of the above steps to create an approach that is most comfortable and appropriate for you. 15

16 Ways to Connect at a Networking Event There are some proven strategies to help you navigate your way through a networking event. Below are tips for how to prepare for such an event, ways to increase your chances of making connections and etiquette for follow-up correspondences. Event Preparation Ways to Connect The Follow Up Review the list of attendees. Research their companies to create discussion points. Check to see if you know any contacts who work for the participating organizations so you may seek them out at the event. Think about your goals. What are you trying to gain from attending the event? If food is offered, eat beforehand. Bring business cards and copies of your resume. Attend the event alone or separate yourself from your friends upon arrival. Stand near the registration and/or food table. Study name tags, circle the room and scan for potential companies or contacts you want to meet. Look for people standing alone and sit next to people you don t know well. or write a brief hand written note within 48 hours of making contact (See Appendix G). Don t treat your new contact as a best friend. Show restraint in both frequency and length of your messages. Follow up from time to time with information or updates on your search to keep your contact active. Inform your networking contacts of major activity related to their recommendations. Send a revised resume to contacts in order to stay in touch. 16 Internship and Career Services

17 Preparing for an Interview A successful interview will be the result of prior preparation and practice. Below are some points to consider as you prepare to sell your strengths and experiences. Know yourself. Analyze your interests, skills and accomplishments, not to mention your passions and dreams. Identify examples of success from your past experiences. You should be able to tell short stories that explain problems or situations you encountered, the action you took to solve those problems and the results of your actions. Present these scenarios to employers by focusing on the skills, abilities and personal traits that allowed you to achieve your successes. Try to make your scenarios relevant to the job for which you are applying. If possible, quantify your achievements. Identify two or three selling points. Distinguish your employment candidacy from that of others. A selling point could be an example of your strong leadership experience, your role in a meaningful community service project or direct experience in your field of interest. Determine how you will convey these points during the interview using the CAR model (See page 19 for an example). Research the organization prior to the interview. Employers expect students to perform research on the organization. Up-to-date information can usually be found on an organization s website. Key facts to gather before interviewing include: Key people in the organization. Major products or services. Mission and vision statements. Core values. Size in terms of sales and employees. Locations other than your community. Organizational structure of the company. Major competitors. View of the company by clients, suppliers and competition. Latest news reports on the company or on local or national news that affects the company. Acquire as much information as possible about the position. What skills are required for this position? What are the position responsibilities? You may find it helpful to conduct an informational interview with someone who is currently working in a position similar to the one to which you aspire. Searching LinkedIn may provide you with several alumni and employer contacts that are willing to help. Remember that the interview is a two-way exchange of information. Your goal is to discover if the organization is a good fit for you. The goal of the employer is to assess whether you are a good fit for their organization. Be sure to prepare questions about the position and organization. Participate in a Mock Interview. A mock interview is strongly suggested to continually strengthen your interview skills. In a one-on-one setting with a qualified career advisor, your performance will be critiqued and you will receive immediate suggestions for improvement. To request a mock interview, contact the Internship and Career Services office at or ics@butler.edu. 17

18 Important Tips and Suggestions Before the Interview Review the tips below to help you prepare for an interview. Cell phone Take contact information with you Know where you are going Take a padfolio Leave it in your car or turn it off before you enter the building or meeting location to ensure that a call or text message won t disrupt your important interview. Do not be tempted to leave it on and text or use other phone functions while you wait in the lobby for the interview. Always take the office or employer contact phone number with you. This will ensure that you can notify the interviewer of your whereabouts if you face unexpected circumstances such as illness, slow-moving traffic, an accident, flat tire, road closures, etc. However, always plan ahead to allow yourself plenty of time. Make sure you are aware of your meeting location and the best route to get there. If time allows, practice a test run and drive to the location a few days before your meeting. Also, determine where you need to park before the day of your interview, especially if it is a meeting in a location with limited or metered parking. Carry along a padfolio that will allow you to store extra copies of your resume and references just in case you need them along with other information such as articles or company web pages to review while you are waiting for your interview. You can also write down your questions and tuck them in the padfolio to have ready at the close of the interview. If you don t have a padfolio, check with the Butler bookstore or ask to borrow one from a friend or advisor. Notes: 18 Internship and Career Services

19 Behavior-Based Interviews A behavior-based interview focuses on experiences, behaviors, knowledge, skills and abilities that are job related. It is premised on the belief that past behavior and performance predicts future behavior and performance. The CAR model of interview preparation provides you with a systematic way to practice and become familiar with behaviorbased interviewing. The CAR system allows you to tell the interviewer a story (with a beginning, middle and end) about how you achieved a goal. Use work experience, activities, hobbies, volunteer work, school projects anything that would be considered strong examples of your past behavior. CAR Model Question: Can you tell me about a time when you were faced with an angry person? C (Circumstance) A (Actions) R (Results) Provide the interviewer a brief overview of the circumstance you will be telling them about. It is a method for beginning your story. After setting the stage by describing the circumstance, tell the interviewer the specific actions you took to resolve the problem or situation. This is the MOST IMPORTANT step of your answer. Your interview goal is to demonstrate a resultsoriented background. Connect your accomplishments to the position you are seeking. Even if the results didn t turn out as you had planned, tell the interviewer what you learned from the experience and what you would do differently next time. Example: This past summer, I had an internship at a technology firm and was responsible for answering customer calls and assisting them with their software issues. One particular day I received a call from a client who was very upset. He was yelling at me over the phone because his computer program was not working properly. Example: I remained calm and listened carefully to his explanation of the problem and took notes as he explained. Once he was finished, I responded by restating his problem to ensure that I had the correct information and told him how I understood why this was such a serious concern for his business. I then explained the steps that I was going to take next. Rather than having him complete the fix just over the phone, I remotely connected to his computer and talked him through the steps I was taking. When I was finished with the fix, the program appeared to start up properly. However, I asked him if he would send a test through while I was still connected so we could watch it together to ensure everything was working properly. Example: His test went through great, and he reassured me that the problem was resolved. I followed up the next day with a courtesy call to check in with him. He apologized for his initial reaction and thanked me for being so thorough. The client actually went on to purchase additional products from our company. You may also follow-up your CAR response with a brief statement explaining the connection between your example and how it aligns with the objectives of the position. This approach is especially helpful if the example isn t field-specific as it will help demonstrate how your skills and experiences can transfer over to the new position. Your answers should be approximately 60 seconds in length. 19

20 Behavior-Based Interview Questions Below are some examples of behavior-based interview questions that you may encounter during your next interview. Organization and Planning Skills Describe a specific situation which illustrates how you set objectives to reach a goal. Tell me about a time when you had to choose between two or more important opportunities. Tell me how you normally schedule your time in order to accomplish your day-to-day tasks. Describe a situation where you had a major role in organizing an important event. Think about a lengthy term paper or report that you have written. Describe how you organized, researched and wrote that report. Give an example of how you organized notes and other materials in order to study for an important exam. Describe a time when you reorganized something to be more efficient. Interaction and Leadership Tell me about an event in your past which has greatly influenced the way you relate to people. Give a specific example that best illustrates your ability to deal with an uncooperative person. Tell me about a time when you had to work with someone who had a negative opinion of you and how you overcame this. Recall a time when you participated on a team. Tell me an important lesson you learned that is useful to you today. Describe an instance when you reversed a negative situation at school, work or home. Describe a situation which best illustrates your leadership ability. Think about someone whose leadership you admire. What qualities impress you? Assertiveness and Motivation Describe several work standards that you have set for yourself in past jobs. Why are these important to you? Tell me about a time when you experienced a lack of motivation and how you overcame this. Describe a situation where you had to work with someone whom you felt was dishonest. Describe a situation that made you extremely angry. Tell me about a time that best illustrates your ability to persevere in a tough situation. Describe a time when you motivated an unmotivated person to do something you wanted them to do. Give me an example of when someone tried to take advantage of you and how you reacted. Decision Making and Problem Solving Give an example that illustrates your ability to make a tough decision. Tell me about a decision you made even though you did not have all the facts. Describe a situation where you had to stand up for a decision you made, even though it was unpopular. Describe a situation where you changed your mind, even after you publicly committed to a decision. Describe a situation that illustrates your ability to analyze and solve a problem. Tell me about a time where you acted as a mediator to solve a problem between two other people. Describe a problem that seemed almost overwhelming to you and how you handled it. Tell me about a time where you have used a creative or unique approach to solve a tough problem. Typical Interview Questions Tell me about yourself. Why did you attend Butler University? Why do you want to work for our company? What do you know about our company? What led you to choose your major or career field? What are some issues being faced by our profession? What college subjects did you like best/least? What did you like/dislike about them? What has been your greatest challenge in college? Describe your most rewarding college experience. If you could change a decision you made while at college, what would you change? 20 Internship and Career Services

21 What campus involvements did you choose? What did you gain/contribute? What are your plans for continued or graduate study? What interests you about this position? What challenges are you looking for in a position? How have your educational and work experiences prepared you for this position? What work experiences have been most valuable to you and why? Why are you interested in our organization? In what way do you think you can contribute to our company? What do you consider to be your greatest strength? Weakness? What accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction? Why? What are your long-term career objectives? How do you plan to achieve these? How would you describe your ideal position? What two or three things are most important to you in your job? Questions You Can Ask Employers Interviews are two-way conversations with a purpose. Thus, you need to ask well-formulated, intelligent questions that demonstrate your knowledge, maturity and interest in the organization. Equally important, you need to ask questions that will help you assess your fit with an organization. Below are some examples of questions you may ask the employer at the end of an interview. Please describe the typical career path of a in this department/organization. What issues or concerns are facing this department/organization? What are the goals for this department/organization for the near future? What new projects have this department/organization recently undertaken? Why do you enjoy working for this organization? Who are the people with whom I would be working? Can you tell me a little about them? What professional development opportunities are available in this organization? What direction do you see this organization going in the future? What is the relationship of this organization with the local community? Do you encourage participation in community or professional activities? How would you describe the most successful employees in this organization? What characteristics do you possess that have made you successful with this organization? What do you wish you had known about this organization before you began working? What do you think differentiates this organization from the competition? Can you tell me where the process will go from here? (This will help you determine how quickly the company plans to make a decision) Stress Questions In some cases, employers have been known to ask stress questions. The purpose is to catch you off guard and see how you react to an unexpected question or scenario. Typically, there are no right answers to these questions. The keys to successfully answering a stress question are to remain calm and justify why you chose your answer. Sample Stress Questions: Why is a manhole cover round? If you could be a tree, what would you be? Sample Answers: A manhole cover is round because a manhole is round. The cover fits perfectly and keeps people and cars safe from injury. If I could be a tree, I would be an apple tree because I would be able to create a product and share it with others. 21